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By BHFF standards, any film that is 50 minutes and over in length is considered a feature film. The term feature film evolved from the days when the cinema-viewer would watch a series of short subjects before the main film. The shorts would typically include newsreels, serials, animated cartoons and live-action comedies and documentaries. These types of short films would lead up to what came to be called the "featured presentation", or the film given the most prominent billing and running multiple reels. The BHFF carries on this tradition and makes way for new developments in feature films by selecting original, top-quality features to screen at the festival.

The Beverly Hills Film Festival is dedicated to screening thought-provoking documentary films on a variety of subjects. The word "documentary" was first applied to films of this nature in a review of Robert Flaherty's film Moana (1926), published in the New York Sun on February 8, 1926 and written by "The Moviegoer", a pen name for documentarian John Grierson.

The short-film form is to the full-length film what the short story is to a full-fledged novel. An art form all to itself, in many instances, the short film is the beginning of a promising career in film for young filmmakers. At The Beverly Hills Film Festival, those talents enjoy high priority. In order to give this special format the attention it deserves, any film that is 1 minute (60 sec) to 49 min 59 sec in length is considered a short film.

The glorious history of animation dates all the way back to Paleolithic cave paintings. Over the last two centuries, animation film technology has advanced from flip books to 3D animation and CGI. When selecting animated films for competition, the BHFF recognizes unique story lines, imagination, and technique.

Great films start with great screenplays. The BHFF selects feature-length and short-length screenplays for competition that will grab the reader and audience passionately and captivate them, whether the characters are likeable or not. Expert storytelling can include a number of aspects, such as: well-developed characters, inspiration, conflict, romance, a mission, obstacles, drama, comedy, and risking losing something or someone. The BHFF looks for the heart of the story, the driving force; we want to see what’s at stake and feel so compelled with the story that it’s hard to put the screenplay down.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The Beverly Hills Film Festival, or BHFF as it is known, strives to bring creative new talent to the forefront and make dreams a reality. Our limited amount of films, in competition, has proved to be successful in helping keep our focus on you, the filmmaker. The BHFF is truly one of the last remaining “traditional” film festivals, dedicated to offering the best platform to showcase the best independent cinema has to offer.

The role of BHFF has grown rich over the years, constantly evolving with the evolution of cinema itself: promoting films and artists, welcoming professionals, implementing new sets of dynamics in support of creation... in a word, serving the cinema in all its dimensions.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The International Beverly Hills Film Festival is proud of our outstanding ability to recognize some of the pasts and futures most unique experiences by bringing them into the now-the present, after all the present is truly a gift. From the first film ever shot in Hollywood, “In Old California” by D.W. Griffith, to discovering Federico Fellini’s last film “Verso La Luna Con Fellini,” (Towards the Sun with Fellini) staring Federico Fellini and Roberto Bernini, The BHFF is honored to pay homage to past greats and rising stars.

Considered among the most exclusive film festivals in the world; in one of the most exclusive cities in the world. The Beverly Hills Film Festival is proud to play host over an intimate five (5) day affair with over twenty thousand (20,000) attendees. The BHFF brings together hundreds (100’s) of media from around the globe, with over three hundred million (300,000,000) media impressions reported annually and growing. Designed to bridge the world of premiere independent cinema with the renowned community of Beverly Hills, the festival is an entertainment event with world class screenings at AMPAS, Writers Guild, Chinese Theater and The Clarity Theatre, nightly theme parties, seminars and a charity benefit. The festival will conclude with a black tie awards ceremony.

We welcome filmmakers and the Beverly Hills community to share in the celebration of art and culture in this wonderful city of international acclaim.

-The festival will consider all films regardless of any commercial, theatrical or television play in the US.

-Prior festival screenings will be considered. However, no prior screenings are preferred and may be one of the factors when determining a films inclusion into the Festival.

-World and US premieres are not required.

-All films in a language other than English MUST be subtitled in English for festival presentation.

-Works-in-progress will be considered. PLEASE NOTE: Upon acceptance, filmmakers must deliver final format for festival screening.

DO NOT send cash.

Payment MUST be in ($) US dollars and may be made by check, money order, or credit card via Withoutabox. Checks or money orders MUST be in ($) US Dollars only and should be made payable to BEVERLY HILLS FILM FESTIVAL. International entrants who do not pay by credit card must use an international money order paid in ($) US dollars through a US bank.

The Festival is not responsible for the damage to tapes incurred in shipping NOR will the festival return entries. All preview tapes and submitted press materials WILL NOT be returned. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

Requirements for SELECTED Films:
***The following is a list of items needed for all Official Selections which will be screened at the 16th annual BHFF taking place April 2nd - April 6, 2016. Please note the following materials MUST be received by the festival NO Later than February 15, 2016. For maximum exposure of your film, the BHFF will require the following:

A. Five (5) copies (ONLY) of a printed press kit which should include biographies and headshots of the Director and Writer(s) of the film, a short synopsis of the film(think back of DVD box), photos/stills (color or black/whites) of your film, clip reels and film trailers.

B. 50 Postcards (any size) - Please be sure to include your the BHFF Official Selection laurel, your screening day/time and any other information you think would help bring people to your screening. Postcars will also be placed at our various venues and locations around town to help promote your screening. We strongly encourage each filmmaker to bring extra postcards with you and hand them out like a business card...it works!

C. *Film Poster
*The poster must be mounted on a foam/cork board back and you must either bring your own easel to display the poster prior to your screening or it must be free-standing.

D. Five (5) DVD copies (ONLY) for official judging. Receiving these copies in a timely manner is extremely important. This MUST be received by February 15, 2016.

E. Final format of your film (35mm, DVCam or HDCam). This MUST be received by February 15, 2016. ALL filmmakers are STRONGLY encouraged to have a back-up master print with them at time of screening as BHFF WILL NOT be held responsible for any issues with your master print that may cause your film to not be screened. Better to be safe than sorry!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Filmmaker agrees to the following:
-One DVD (NTSC) of the film; your DVD must be labeled with the title, director's name, length, format, subtitling (if any), genre; please indicate if the submission is a rough cut, or work in progress.
-Synopsis of the film (in English).
-A statement of the director on the film.
-Biography and filmography of the director.
-One or more still from the film.
-Full cast and credits list.
-Poster and/or press booklet.
In case an item is not available at the time of submission, it will be requested immediately upon selection.
For promotion of selected films the Festival will request the owners of the participating films to make available a sufficient number of press kits, stills, (extra) video cassette(s) for the video library as well as excerpts from the film in Betacam SP NTSC format (for feature length films).
-Final Screening format will be 35mm, DCP or BlueRay.
The Festival is not responsible for the damage to tapes incurred in shipping. All preview tapes and submitted press materials will not be returned. Absolutely no exceptions will be permitted.
Beverly Hills Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Beverly Hills Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.